Ecuador is ecstatic, to say the least! After all, it’s now official: Ecuador is going the World Cup! The town center was quick to celebrate and we even caught glimpses of the team emerging from the president’s palace on the square. It was more fun to see everyone react to the soccer team than to see the soccer team itself. I desperately wanted to photograph (videograph) it all, but I was hesitant pulling out my DSLR in the middle of all of the commotion. Instead, Andrew filmed the performance (above) that was going on in the square. Whenever I don’t feel safe holding onto my camera, Andrew carries it in his backpack (on his front). We’ve become almost tactical in how we carry valuables. On this particular day, because we were relying on the public bus (something that made my Spanish teacher proud) I had money in my bra, my ipod in my underpants, and my camera with Andrew. We hardly ever both carry ATM and/or credit cards at the same time, and Andrew even has a decoy wallet. Generally I carry a little purse that often has nothing of value in it. We miss Korea often, where you can leave your laptop computer on your table in a cafe while you go to the bathroom (Seriously) but I’m glad we’ve had to watch our backs more than we’re used to on this trip, before we move back stateside.
soccer
Day 403: Ecuador World Cup Qualifier
My fellow Americans, most of you are missing out on World Cup madness. The rest of the world has got it going on. Why aren’t we getting in on all of this action? It’s not even time for the World Cup, but check out this Ecuadorian goodness below. If you’re American, can you even imagine getting all worked up over a World Cup Qualifier for our national team? No, I didn’t think so. I’ve had to explain this to my Czech students when I lived in Prague during the 2006 World Cup (held in Germany). I’ve had to explain this to my Korean students when we lived in Seoul during the most recent 2010 World Cup (held in South Africa). And today, I would have explained it to Luis here in Ecuador, had he took a breath from reading grammar lessons to me all morning long. However, later in the afternoon as me, Andrew, Tom (all Americans) sat with a few others to watch the game, we joked around about our country’s lack of enthusiasm for the sport, and tournament the rest of the world loves. At least I’ve been exposed to what it’s like outside of America. Now if only I can figure out where to watch the games in 2014.
